The honourary wall in celebration of Lethbridge music promoter Ron Sakamoto is unveiled at the ENMAX Centre, November 7, 2022. (Image: City of Lethbridge)

By David Opinko

Ron Sakamoto to receive special achievement award at 2023 JUNOS

Nov 15, 2022 | 3:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A famed music promotor from Southern Alberta will be honoured at the 2023 JUNO Awards.

Ron Sakamoto will receive the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.

Named after the co-founder of the JUNO Awards, the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award recognizes people whose work has significantly impacted the growth and development of the Canadian music industry.

Sakamoto, through his companies Gold & Gold Productions and Sakamoto Agency, has managed musical talents including The Beach Boys, Doobie Brothers, Gordon Lightfoot, Bryan Adams, KISS, Keith Urban, Johnny Reid, and Shania Twain.

He was born in Coaldale and currently resides in Lethbridge.

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On November 8, 2022, “Sak’s Honourary Wall” was unveiled at the ENMAX Centre, paying tribute to the promotor.

Speaking at the wall’s unveiling event, ENMAX Centre General Manager Kim Gallucci said Sakamoto has brought more than 100 shows to the arena over the years.

“Ron’s imprint and contributions to live music, tourism and quality of life in Lethbridge, as well as the success of so many world-class headliners who have performed at this venue, are immeasurable,” said Gallucci.

As detailed in a media release from the City of Lethbridge, Sakamoto’s long list of accomplishments include:

• 1964 – Opens first nightclub, Honeycomb A Go Go in Lethbridge for teens
• 1968 – Launches Gold & Gold Productions Ltd.
• 1975 – First event at Lethbridge Sportsplex, a Doobie Brothers concert
• 1993 – Wins first Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Promoter of the Year. After receiving this honour for the next 17 years, the award is re-named to “Ron Sakamoto Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year” in 2010
• 1996 – Receives Award of Exceptional Citizenship from Lethbridge Mayor David Carpenter
• 2001 – University of Lethbridge creates Ron Sakamoto Scholarship
• 2001 – Wins Country Music Association (CMA) International/Talent Buyer of the Year Award
• 2003 – Receives Honourary Doctorate of Law degree from the University of Lethbridge
• 2006 – Wins second CMA International/Talent Buyer of the Year Award
• 2007 – Awarded CCMA Hank Smith Award of Excellence
• 2008 – Presented Key to the City by Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck
• 2010 – Establishes Digital Audio Arts Scholarship with wife Joyce, for the Digital Arts and Music Program at the University of Lethbridge
• 2012 – Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
• 2012 – Becomes owner of Paradise Canyon Golf Resort
• 2013 – Donates 28 guitars to Galbraith Elementary School to start their music program
• 2013 – Launches Sakamoto Agency
• 2013 – Wins International Entertainment Buyer’s Association (IEBA) International Buyer of the Year Award
• 2014 – Inducted into Canadian Country Music Association Hall of Fame
• 2015 – Presented the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Business Legacy Award
• 2017 – Honoured with Blackfoot Name Komahniisihnskii (Owns Many Songs)
• 2017 – Substantial donation to Angel Tree Program enabling Lethbridge Family Services to fulfil every child’s dream of a Christmas gift
• 2019 – Sponsors One District One Book with 13,000 books distributed to Lethbridge School District No.51
• 2019 – Awarded the Music Managers Forum (MMF) Canada Brian Chater Pioneer Award for instrumental contributions to artist management in Canada (for immeasurable contributions to Music Management Canada)
• 2019 – Becomes a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence

The 2023 Juno Awards will be held in Edmonton on March 13. The ceremony will also include the induction of Alberta rock band Nickelback into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

READ MORE: Honourary wall for Ron Sakamoto unveiled at ENMAX Centre